For the first time in 10 years the federal government has deported an illegal boat arrival from Iraq, after the man's claim for asylum was rejected.
The return of the Iraqi man earlier in the week came after the government in May ordered the first deportation in more than five years of an Afghan asylum seeker who arrived in Australia by boat.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the deportation of the two men reinforced the government's commitment to returning those who are found not to be refugees.
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"In the past month, the refusal rate for Afghan asylum seekers has exceeded 70 per cent and, if these decisions are upheld at review, we can expect to see many more people being returned," he
said.
In the last three days alone, a string of bomb attacks against pilgrims in Iraq has killed 70 people.
The United Nations warned in its latest human rights report that although violence had fallen overall in Iraq, "attacks deliberately targeting religious and ethnic groups continue unabated."
The returned man's case was not immediately clear, although the Australian reported that it concerned' a Sydney migration agent - former Iraqi diplomat Mohamed al-Jabiri.
"That man was mentally traumatised and told me he was ready to go home to face death," the paper quoted him as saying.
The announcement comes during a week in which the public debate over asylum-seekers was stepped up once again, with the Prime Minister announcing plans for an offshore processing centre.
